THE BEAVER.

BEAVERS appear to hold the same place amongst quadrupeds that bees do amongst insects; both being pre-eminently distinguished for their social habits and civil polity; union and co-operation under the influence of unerring laws, all bearing upon the common benefit, are found alike among the Beavers and the bees. True, the insects appear to be more under the control of man, and seem to contribute more to his comforts in the sweet food they make; but the articles of clothing furnished from the beavers' skins, make their contributions to our comforts of a valuable kind.

These animals are now only found in the northern regions of Europe, Asia, and America, but chiefly in the latter. Formerly they are said to have existed in the British islands.

The Beaver has a flat broad tail, covered with scales, which serves it as a rudder in the water, and as a cart on land to carry meterials for its building. The hind feet are webbed, but the fore feet are not, from the necessity of using them as hands. The fore part, in general, resembles a land animal, and the hinder part a fish. The teeth are formed like a saw, and are used as such

in cutting down the wood with which it builds its hut. The fur, which is of a deep chesnut brown, is the most valuable material used in making hats. And hence the name given to our best kind of hats, Beaver hats. Its length from nose to tail is about three feet; the tail is eleven inches long and three broad.

In June and July, Beavers form their societies, of two or three hundred, which they continue all the rest of the year. They always assemble by the side of a lake or river, where they take up their abode. The skill of these creatures is very extraordinary; and it may teach us a lesson of humility, when we see a Beaver, with only its feet, teeth, and tail, capable of building a hut, as commodious for itself and young, as a cottage can be rendered to a peasant, even with the aid of reason and proper tools.

If they fix their station by a river subject to floods, they build a sort of pier which crosses the stream, so as to form a piece of water; but if they settle near a lake, not liable to overflow its banks, they save themselves this trouble. To form this pier, they drive stakes about five or six feet in length, wattling each row with twigs, and filling up the space between the rows with clay and earth, and other materials, calculated to make it

firm. The side next the water is sloped, and the other perpendicular. The bottom is from ten to twelve feet thick,, gradually diminishing to the top, which is about two or three feet at most. This pier is generally from eighty to a hundred feet in length. The greatness of the work, considering the architect, is not more wonderful than its firmness and solidity.

Their huts, or houses, are erected near the shore, in the water collected by the piers. They are either round or oval, and are built on piles. The tops being vaulted, the inside resembles an oven, and the outside a dome. Some of the houses have only one floor, and others three. The walls, which are two feet thick, are made of earth, stones, and sticks, and plastered with all the skill of an expert mason. Every house has two openings, one into the water and the other